peterson



No. 609,700. Patented Aug. 23, I898.

P. PETERSON.

GATE.

(Application filed Apr. 2, 1898. J

' (No Model.)

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Patented Aug. 23, I898. P. PETERSON.

G A T E.

(Application filed Apr. 2, 1898.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

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GATE.

(Application filed Apr. 2, 1898.)

3 Sheets-Sheet (No Model.)

NITED STATES PATENT -OFFICE.

PETER PETERSON, OF REELS, IOWA.

GATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 609,700, dated August 23, 1898.

Application filed April 2, 1898. Serial No. 676,217. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, PETER PETERSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Reels, in the county of Pottawattamie and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gates; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to gates; and it consists, essentially, of a gate proper attached to and suspended from hangers engaging a track supported by one side of a tilting operatingbeam, having levers for actuating the same to open and close the gate automatically at a distance from either side thereof.

The invention further consists of the general and detail construction and arrangement of the several parts, more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

The object of the present construction is to facilitate passage through a gate and afterclosure thereof from either side without re quiring the descent of an operator from an approaching vehicle or direct manipulation by a pedestrian, the parts being simple and efiective in their construction, strong and durable, and comparatively inexpensive.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a gate embodying the invention, showing it closed in full lines and open in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a detail elevation of the gate proper, looking toward the side opposite that shown by Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line .90, Fig. 1, to show the arrangement of the actuating-levers, the latter being broken away. Fig. 4 is a section 011 line yy, Fig. 1. Fig. 5 isatop plan view of the gate entire, broken away at different points. Fig. 6 is a detail View of one of the bent metal hoods or covers of the suspending-bars forming a part of the device.

Referring to the drawings, wherein similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts in the several views, the numerals 1 and 2 designate opposite'end posts arranged in pairs spaced apart from each other. These posts may be varied as to contour and dimensions, and secured transversely across the inner edges or portions of the posts 1 and at a suitable elevation-is a latch-rod 3, and above the same a rest-bar 4: y

is similarly placed, which has a recess 5 in its upper edge. A space-block 6 is mounted between and secured to one of said posts 1, and also on the inner side of the latter, above the rest-bar, a limiting-bar 7 is rigidly applied and formed with a lower recess 8 in line with the recess 5 in the said rest-bar. The space-block extends from the rest-bar upwardly to the limiting-bar and is of less thickness than the space between'the posts 1 to form a seat-space 9 for the reception of the outer end of a tilting operating-beam 10. The said beam 10 is pivotally swung,by means of a loop or staple 11, on a fulcrum-rod 12, held .in the upper portions of the posts 2, and said loop or staple is prevented from laterally riding or moving on said rod by a space sleeve 13 of such length as to sustain the beam in alinement with the seat-space 9. The beam 10 projects beyond the posts 2 to permit the gate-opening between the opposite pairs of posts 1 and 2 to be sufficiently cleared when said beam is operated for this purpose. Stops 14 are aflixed to the one side of the beam near the ends thereof to limit the movement of the gate proper in its opening and closing operations, and on the same side a track rod or rail 15 is supported by and at a suitable distance from the said beam. The outer end of the beam is formed with a lower transverse slot 16, into which the inner endsof actuating-1evers 17 project, the said levers being extended away from the gate and fulcrumed on the outer portions of the rest-bar 4:. The outer ends of the levershave depending grips or pulls l8 movably attached thereto, and the longest part of each lever is outside of its fulcrum,so that a small amount of force applied .to open or close the gate proper will suffice to attain the desired result.

The gate proper, 19, is composed, preferably, of aseries of longitudinal rails 20, connected by opposite vertical strips 21, and at the outer end of said gate a part of the rails 20 project into the space between the posts 1. The uppermost rail has a latch arm 22 rig idly secured thereto, on which is mounted a gravity-latch 23. This latch comprises a U- shaped body loosely embracing the arm 22, and from the lower portion thereof opposite rods are bent upwardly at an incline-and 0011 nected by a continuous loop passing transversely through the outer part of said arm to form the pivot for the said latch. The body of the latch depends vertically below the lower edge of the arm 22 and automatically drops over the latch-rod 3 when the gate proper is closed, being raised gradually by contact of the inclined rods thereof with said rod 3. Stop-pins 24 on the arm 22 limit the upward movement of the latch, and thereby the latter is prevented also from becoming displaced or inoperatively disposed. This form of latch is preferred, because of its simplicity of construction and effective opera-' tion; but other gravity-latches might be also connected to the upper ends of said suspending-bars, and the lower edges of the same on one side are doubled over and stand away from and form, with the strips 26, guidespaces. The opposite lower edges of the hoods are recessed, as at 29, and doubled over to form reinforces, the said recesses terminating at opposite end stops or projections 30. The oppositely-projecting trunnions 31 of grooved Wheels 32 loosely engage the guide-spaces and the recesses 29, and said wheels bear and travel upon the track rail or rod 15, the said trunnions being limited in their loose travel by engaging the stops or projections 30.

The specified mounting of the wheels 32 prevents binding or resistance to the free op eration of the gate proper, and the depending suspending-bars also serve to balance the said gate 'and prevent loosening of the several parts by the concussion and vibration incident to the sudden stoppage after opening or closing the same. Springs or analogous buffers can be mounted on opposite portions of the beam 10 or upon posts 1, if desired, to cushion the gate proper at the terminations V of its movement.

The beam 10 has the greater portion of its length located between the posts 1 and 2 or in advance of the fulcrum, and consequently the shorter portion thereof projects rearward from the parts 2. This serves atwofold purpose-ta, first, to have the greater weight of the beam itself when the latter is down to assi st in retaining the gate closed against accidental self -operation, and thereby obviate over-sensitiveness; secondly, to avoid too great projection of the rear end of the beam beyond the posts 2 and also prevent the gate when moved in open position from coming too near the ground.

- When the gate proper is closed, the pre ponderance, of Weight on the beam 10 is between the posts 1 and 2, and the said gate is held down, and the outer end of the beam bears on the rest-bar 4:. The attempts of small or other stock running loose or in adjacent fields to raise the gate proper when it is closed will be counteracted by the greater length of the beam between the posts 1 and 2, tending always to depress itself. The actuating-levers are so arranged, however, that a small amount of exertion thereon to operate the beam in opening or closing the gate proper will result in a quick responsive action. When the beam is moved upwardly at its outer end, the gate proper will open, and the greater weight is then shifted to the rear part of the beam. The gate proper will thus be held open as long as desired, and in closing it an upward pressure is applied to either one of said levers to reverse the position or inclination of said beam, and the said gate will automatically close and both levers assume a normal horizontal position. The latch acts to hold the gate closed against efiorts to run the same back on the beam without operating the latter, as previously set forth.

When the front end of the beam is raised to open the gate proper, the outer end thereof can only ascend until it strikes the limiting bar 7, and said bars 7 and 4 are spaced apart a predetermined distance to allow the elevation and depression of the beam necessary to have the said gate proper move in opposite directions, as stated.

The upper ends of the suspending-bars and hoods or covers of the hangers pass freely under the space-sleeve on the fulcrum of the beam and do not in the least interfere with the movement of the gate proper.

The preferred form of the gate proper has been illustrated and described; but it is obviously apparent that changes in the proportions, dimensions, and minor details of construction could be made without in the lea-st departing from the nature or spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. In a device of the character set forth, the combination of opposite end posts arranged in pairs spaced apart from each other, a space-block between the upper part of the outer posts and secured to one of the latter, said block being of less width than the distance between the posts to provide a seatspace atone side, transverse rest and limiting bars on the inner sides of the said outer posts and disposed respectively at the lower and upper portions of the seat-space, said bars having recesses in the edges thereof adjacent to and alining with said space, a tilting operating beam loosely fulcrumed on a rod mounted in the rear pair of posts and held to one side by a space-sleeve on said rod, the outer end of said beam loosely extending into said seat-space and the opposite end projecting rearwardly through and away from the rear posts, a slot being formed in the lower part of the beam adjacent the outer posts, a track rod or rail secured to one side of the beam and having opposite end stops, a gate proper having upper suspending-bars supporting loosely-mounted rollers movable on the said track rod or rail, and operating-levers pivotally mounted on the inner sides of the outer posts and extending outwardly in planes at right angles to the position of the gate proper, the inner ends-of said operatinglevers being reduced and extending past each other into the slot in the beam.

2. In a device of the character set forth, the combination of outer and rear pairs of posts spaced apart from each other, a tilting beam loosely fulcrumed on the rear pair of posts and having a track rod or rail secured to one side thereof, the said'beam projecting beyond the rear pair of posts and havinga slot formed therein adjacent said outer posts, a pair of levers pivotally attached to the inner portions of the outer posts and having their inner ends reduced and extending into said slot in the beam, and a gate proper having suspending-bars attached thereto with upper cross-bars connecting the same in pairs, and grooved rollers loosely mounted in the upper portions of the suspending-bars and engaging the said track rod or rail on the beam.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

PETER PETERSON.

Witnesses:

W. J. DAVENPORT, G. G. BAIRD. 

